150 Gallon in-wall build
- Thread starter phxfishguy
- Start date
phxfishguy
Member
It should only take another day to put up the drywall and paint. I need to get some more sand and rock, which I plan on doing on Friday so rockwork and water on Friday in the tank. Hopefully add fish by Sunday.
phxfishguy
Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3178523
I would put the styrofoam "directly" under the tank, and the rest below that. This is actually what is recommended from most tank manufacturers. The styrofoam directly under the tank will allow for any settling, which could otherwise cause shifts.
It actually shouldn't matter whether the foam is directly under the tank or under the plywood. The foam will allow for adjustment in either location. What I didn't mention is that neither the foam or the plywood is attached, giving it some float so that it can settle.
http:///forum/post/3178523
I would put the styrofoam "directly" under the tank, and the rest below that. This is actually what is recommended from most tank manufacturers. The styrofoam directly under the tank will allow for any settling, which could otherwise cause shifts.
It actually shouldn't matter whether the foam is directly under the tank or under the plywood. The foam will allow for adjustment in either location. What I didn't mention is that neither the foam or the plywood is attached, giving it some float so that it can settle.
phxfishguy
Member
I finished most of the exterior today except for the carpet and floor molding. I also built a scaffold in the back to stand on to access the tank so I don't need to keep moving a stool around. Tomorrow starts the rock building...
gill again68
Active Member
Very nice. Would love to have a room I could do this with. May be a future project with a future house.
phxfishguy
Member
Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3179779
WOW! It looks AMAZING!! You got this project done really quickly.
When are you putting the sink and RO unit in. Also, as you doing built in ATO or no?
I forget... What lighting are you doing on this guy and how will that be installed?
Right now I have PC lighting which will just sit on top of the tank. I am going to build a bracket off the ceiling so that I can lift it up when I need to get in the tank. I plan on upgrading my lights to Metal Halide when I get my next bonus at which point I will hang them from the ceiling on a pulley that I can raise or lower.
I've already got an RO system installed and making water, but I need to figure out how to make a float for the tank to autofill. The sink is the next minor project once I get that fish room cleaned up. I am not sure what ATO is.
http:///forum/post/3179779
WOW! It looks AMAZING!! You got this project done really quickly.
When are you putting the sink and RO unit in. Also, as you doing built in ATO or no?
I forget... What lighting are you doing on this guy and how will that be installed?
Right now I have PC lighting which will just sit on top of the tank. I am going to build a bracket off the ceiling so that I can lift it up when I need to get in the tank. I plan on upgrading my lights to Metal Halide when I get my next bonus at which point I will hang them from the ceiling on a pulley that I can raise or lower.
I've already got an RO system installed and making water, but I need to figure out how to make a float for the tank to autofill. The sink is the next minor project once I get that fish room cleaned up. I am not sure what ATO is.
phxfishguy
Member
Originally Posted by Gill again68
http:///forum/post/3179813
Very nice. Would love to have a room I could do this with. May be a future project with a future house.
In my old house in Phoenix, I had a dream to upgrade to a 300 gallon tank and build it in the wall underneath the stairs so that you could see it from both sides. I figured that was at least 2-3 years away and I had the whole project planned out already. Then I unexpectedly got a job offer in Michigan and while I still couldn't afford to upgrade right now, I was not going to miss the opportunity to set it up in the wall. In fact, when we were looking for houses, I inspected every house for which wall was going to get the fish tank. If a house we looked at couldn't accomodate it, we kept looking.
Eventually, I will upgrade to the 300 gallon. That will be another project.
http:///forum/post/3179813
Very nice. Would love to have a room I could do this with. May be a future project with a future house.
In my old house in Phoenix, I had a dream to upgrade to a 300 gallon tank and build it in the wall underneath the stairs so that you could see it from both sides. I figured that was at least 2-3 years away and I had the whole project planned out already. Then I unexpectedly got a job offer in Michigan and while I still couldn't afford to upgrade right now, I was not going to miss the opportunity to set it up in the wall. In fact, when we were looking for houses, I inspected every house for which wall was going to get the fish tank. If a house we looked at couldn't accomodate it, we kept looking.
Eventually, I will upgrade to the 300 gallon. That will be another project.
E
eric b 125
Guest
yeah buddy! this seems to be moving pretty smoothly. i really like the trim you went with. everything looks amazing.
rlablan
Active Member
lol I believe the woman picked out the trim.
Ladies always know best. hehe
That will be SOME WALL with a 300 in it!! WOW!! I am sure your children will make some new friends, since that is in their play room. I wish I had a basement. Man... I would do this project, and NEVER leave!
You light system sounds really awesome too! That will make it really easy.
That will be SOME WALL with a 300 in it!! WOW!! I am sure your children will make some new friends, since that is in their play room. I wish I had a basement. Man... I would do this project, and NEVER leave!
You light system sounds really awesome too! That will make it really easy.
noah's nemo
Member
Man.i love in-walls
looks good
..
phxfishguy
Member
Originally Posted by kspops
http:///forum/post/3179822
ATO = Auto Top Off. This is to keep a constant level to fight evap...
I am fighting with my wife on a location for my 180G as of now, cant figure where to put it. Great build so far...
Ah, yes. I once saw a DIY auto top off (from another website) that I thought would work great for the tank (not the standard big float that you can buy). I don't have a sump so I wanted something small. However, I can't find that DIY site again so I still need to figure something out, but yes I do want some kind of ATO.
http:///forum/post/3179822
ATO = Auto Top Off. This is to keep a constant level to fight evap...
I am fighting with my wife on a location for my 180G as of now, cant figure where to put it. Great build so far...
Ah, yes. I once saw a DIY auto top off (from another website) that I thought would work great for the tank (not the standard big float that you can buy). I don't have a sump so I wanted something small. However, I can't find that DIY site again so I still need to figure something out, but yes I do want some kind of ATO.
phxfishguy
Member
Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3179983
lol I believe the woman picked out the trim.
Ladies always know best. hehe
That will be SOME WALL with a 300 in it!! WOW!! I am sure your children will make some new friends, since that is in their play room. I wish I had a basement. Man... I would do this project, and NEVER leave!
You light system sounds really awesome too! That will make it really easy.
Of course my wife picked out the trim!
http:///forum/post/3179983
lol I believe the woman picked out the trim.
That will be SOME WALL with a 300 in it!! WOW!! I am sure your children will make some new friends, since that is in their play room. I wish I had a basement. Man... I would do this project, and NEVER leave!
You light system sounds really awesome too! That will make it really easy.
Of course my wife picked out the trim!
phxfishguy
Member
Thanks everyone for the kudos. Today didn't go as planned. I wanted to aquascape, but then decided to put the sand in first. Well, that of course produced some very cloudy water. So now, I will have to wait until tomorrow to do some scaping.
I did move the RODI unit next to the aquarium today, but didn't do much else other than move in the sand and water.
I did move the RODI unit next to the aquarium today, but didn't do much else other than move in the sand and water.
saltwaterri
Member
Nice setup looks great
kspops
Member
Originally Posted by PHXFishGuy
http:///forum/post/3180056
Ah, yes. I once saw a DIY auto top off (from another website) that I thought would work great for the tank (not the standard big float that you can buy). I don't have a sump so I wanted something small. However, I can't find that DIY site again so I still need to figure something out, but yes I do want some kind of ATO.
If you get a chance, check out the condensate pumps for AC systems. If I get a chance, I will try to get a pic of the one at work, A simple little cherry switch assembly that could control a valve. All low voltage so it could be kept small.
http:///forum/post/3180056
Ah, yes. I once saw a DIY auto top off (from another website) that I thought would work great for the tank (not the standard big float that you can buy). I don't have a sump so I wanted something small. However, I can't find that DIY site again so I still need to figure something out, but yes I do want some kind of ATO.
If you get a chance, check out the condensate pumps for AC systems. If I get a chance, I will try to get a pic of the one at work, A simple little cherry switch assembly that could control a valve. All low voltage so it could be kept small.
phxfishguy
Member
Sorry for not updating in a few days.
I did some aquascaping last Wednesday and moved all of the fish, corals and inverts in immediately after. The water was still a little cloudy and I am not completely happy with the aquascaping so I am going to wait to take some more pictures until I feel that I can truly impress all of you
I figured I'd give the fish a few days to adjust to the tank before I stressed them out again. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be able to show you all the tank set up.
I figured I'd give the fish a few days to adjust to the tank before I stressed them out again. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be able to show you all the tank set up.
